Surface finish affects how a part will fit, wear, accept coatings, and more. With the advent of new processes and materials, as well as a more advanced understanding of coating, bonding, lubrication, and friction, surfaces serve an increasingly technical function, and structure becomes an essential characteristic to ensure specified performance and longevity.
For quality purposes, these engineered surfaces must meet specific requirements known as surface finish parameters, so the ability to precisely measure finish is crucial. As surface finish measurement increasingly moves to the point of manufacture, adding automation to the process helps maximize productivity and increases quality and machining efficiency.